Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge knows what it takes to reach the College Football National Championship.
Yes, no one is indeed familiar with the new 12-team playoff format emerging this season, but it was Inge who led the linebackers unit for the Washington Huskies in their runner-up championship finish last season.
Inge came to Tennessee over the offseason for the first SEC stint of his long coaching career. The Missouri native spent time as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at the college football and NFL levels and spent his previous two seasons under Kalen Deboer at Washington.
While speaking to the Tennessee media over the weekend, Inge spoke about his mentality in how many linebackers he’s hoping to rotate this season. Ultimately it comes down to readiness to play and preparation throughout the week.
“The one thing that we try to do, and this is also where recruiting comes into play, we tell guys, if you’re prepared and you’re ready— you’re gonna play,” Inge said. “And that’s what I want to be able to do. I want to be able to play five, six guys because if we can give everyone a role and be fresh in the end of the football game.”
Inge credited fresh legs as one of the keys to his unit’s run to the National Championship game last season.
“I just experienced that at my previous place (Washington) and that’s why we were in the position to go play in the National Championship game is because our guys were not worn out at the end of the season. If your goal is like you want it to be in your room, you can be fresh at the end of the season if you’re playing enough guys. And I think that’s something that we want to look forward to doing on defense is being able to have a good healthy rotation where guys don’t get over-repped.”
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Tennessee’s top two tacklers from the 2023 season are departed linebackers, Elijah Herring (79) and Aaron Beasley (69). The Vols do return two talented players from injury this season, though, with veteran linebacker Keenan Pili and rising second-year linebacker Arion Carter. Pili missed the 2023 season with an injury suffered in the season opener while Carter was injured late in the season. Both players, along with rising sophomore Jeremiah Telander, are expected to be stout for the Vols this season.
But as Inge mentioned, it’ll take more than just three linebackers for the longevity to last throughout the year. Junior linebackers Jalen Smith and Kalib Perry will be relied upon to elevate their game this season as two of Tennessee’s rotational linebackers.
“Next step for me is just playing confidently, having confidence while I’m playing,” Perry said on Saturday. “Just trusting my ability. I know what I’m doing, I take the time outside of football to watch film. Just trust my ability to be able to go make a play regardless if I mess up. Be in every play, be across the field, just be an athlete.”
Another linebacker who has the potential to crack Tennessee’s rotation is Nashville freshman Edwin Spillman. The 6-foot-1, 234-pound linebacker was turning heads throughout the spring and looks to be in even better shape heading into his first fall.
“Everyone knows who he is and you all will know for sure,” Inge said of Spillman. “From a physicality standpoint, he is exactly what you want to see him growing and developing each day as a coach, it is so gratifying and satisfying. And probably one of the things that’s unique.”
Tennessee’s William Inge knows what it takes to get a group to the National Championship and is working to do so with the Volunteers.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee fall camp coverage throughout the month.
